Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-04-14
DRINK AND REMoRsE CRAzEB HIN.
For Four Years Wife Mourns Her Husband
rs Dead
Baltimore Special

Baltimore Special
Lemuel Wells of Caroline county was
married five years ago to pretty orphan
girl with $4,000 in her own right. They
we're both yonng, and began their mar
ried life with every promise of lasting
bliss. She bought well cultivated farm
and Wells went TO work with a will. They
were wsdded in the winter, and the fol
lowing fall their union was blessed with
baby boy that all the family declared
looked Just like his father.
That winter young Wells was called to
California by the death of relative who
had lived near Los Angeles and owned
several large vineyards. The young
wife was unable to accompany her hus-
band because of her babe. He promise d
TO return as soon rs the business of set
Ting up his uncles estate was completed.
He was informed that he had been sub
stantially remembered in his will. His
wife received letters from him regularly
for two months, and then she heard from
him no more The last letter, which she
received March 10, 1888, told her that he
was going to start for home in few
days.
The young wife and mother as weeks
rolled by and her husband did not re-
turn, nearly went frantic. No tidings Of
the missing husband could be found.
The police authorities of various western
cities were notified. 1t was learned that
he left Los Angeles at the time he indi-
Gated He first went to San Francisco.
and from there all trace of him was
lost.
Previous to his marriage Wells had
been dissipated, and was in the habit of
going on periodical sprees. Except when
off on one of these bouts, Wells did not
drink. Before he married Jennie Lau-
rens he promised that he would never
touch aRother drop of liquor.
AS time wore on and Wells did not re-
turn, the poor wife was forced to the hor-
rible conclusion that he was dead; prob
ably murdered and robbed by cut-throat
companions, whose acquaintance he
formed while intoxicated She chung to
every hope that suggested a possibility
of his returning.
A year later the wife sold the farm on
which the loving couple had begun their
married life so prosperously and went to
board with neighbor. She mourned
her husband for dead.
Mrs. Wells recently received dispatch
from San Francisco. II was signed by
her husband. She almost tainted as she
read that he was well and TO be home IN a
week.
Wells has iuce arrived as he promised
He tells remarkable story.
The long lost man says that upon
learning that his uncle had iof. him only
about $500 he was so disappointed that
he began drinking. lie went to San
Francisco and continued his debauch IN
Ill his money was nearly all gone. He
got in with a lot of sailors and finally IN
his drunken, half-crazy condition shipped
to Australia. He went to Melbourne.
Before the trip was half over he was
nearly insane with remorse over what he
had done. tie wrote from Australia, bot
his wife never received the letter. The
excessive drinking and the terriable e1-
citement he had undergone brought ON
an attack of brain fever. The disease
left him with his mind so impaired that
that he remembered nothing.
Wells remained IN the pauper's insane
arylum at Melbourne until near Christ
mas of last year. His faculties suddenly
returned to him. The doctors had all
along considered his maady durable and
took great interest il his case. With the
first CLEAN of returning intelligence he
remembered his wife and child, then his
name and finally his home.
When his mind was fully restored ne
was given passage on vessel to San
Francisco.
The young farmer is not likely to 60
on another spree, as his taste fo1 liquor
has been cured by his terrible expert
enCe.